Field Notes from the Future: Tracking the Movement to Connect People and Nature

Last Child in the Woods & The Nature Principle

"Last Child in the Woods" introduces the concept of nature-deficit disorder, offering practical actions for families and communities. "The Nature Principle" extends the issue to adults and reports the restorative power of the natural world.

About the Author

Richard Louv is Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Children & Nature Network, an organization supporting the international movement to connect children, their families and their communities to the natural world. He is the author of eight books, including "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" and "The Nature Principle." In 2008, he was awarded the Audubon Medal.

Welcome to a happy cause. Many of us believe it’s time for a New Nature Movement, one that includes but goes beyond traditional environmentalism – one that connects children and adults to the natural world. Here are a few examples for how to apply the Nature Principle where we live, work, learn and play. A much longer list is available here.

Becoming a Citizen Naturalist

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers the Celebrate Urban Birds program in English and Spanish, focusing on species often found in urban neighborhoods.

Knowing Who You Are by Knowing
Where You Are

Exploring a Sense of Place provides the means by which people anywhere on Earth can reconnect to the natural world where they live. ESP offers leadership training and local courses in several bioregions around the U.S. and abroad.

Planet Drum Foundation, sponsors publications, speakers, and workshops to help start new bioregional groups and encourages local organizations and individuals to find ways to live within the natural confines of bioregions.

Creating Restorative Homes & Gardens

The Pollinator Partnership. This nonprofit collaborates with scientists, researchers, government officials and others to “support the health of pollinating animals and the plants and habitat they support.” This includes the food we eat and flowers we enjoy.

Developing Restorative Neighborhoods and Cities

Biophilic Cities Project, an international research initiative organized by Tim Beatley at the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture.

The Center for Whole Communities aims to create a more just, balanced and healthy world by exploring, honoring, and deepening the connections among land, people and community.

The Natural Learning Initiative works to naturalize early childhood neighborhood play and learning environments, as part of the Institute of Medicine Task Force policy strategy on preventing childhood obesity.

Becoming New Agrarians

The Quivira Coaltion brings together ranchers and environmentalists to foster ecological, economic and social health on Western landscapes through education and public and private land stewardship.

Strengthening Families Through Nature

C&NN’s Nature Clubs for Families tool kit, in English or Spanish. Individual clubs range from two families to over 600 families.

Applying the Nature Principle in Business

The Biomimicry Institute promotes learning from and then emulating natural forms, processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable and healthier human technologies and designs.

Green for All works nationally to build a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

These are samples from a more extensive Field Guide to the New Nature Movement which includes over 120 resources drawn largely from “The Nature Principle” and “Last Child in the Woods.” The resource guide will be updated from time to time. It’s a work in progress. Naturally.

And, of course, the Children &Nature Network provides hundreds of examples of how to get involved, with tools to help you do that.

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Richard Louv is Chairman Emeritus of The Children and Nature Network and the author of THE NATURE PRINCIPLE: Reconnecting with Life in a Digital Ageand LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Photo: by R.L., taken at a Santa Barbara nature preschool

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I have always been a nature nut, we still have about 50 acres of native prairie while alot of the bits of prairie around us is being cultivated. I have always been interested in having children learn about the outside. I majored in agricultural biology so completed alot of botany classes. We have a empty school in town and this could be something that would put it back into use. Kids, the environment and putting an empty building into use, trouble is I am just me and where do you start?? Sound feasible??

It does sound feasible, but a big undertaking. I’d suggest scouring the C&NN site as well as participating in C&NN Connect in order to learn about similar projects, and even connect with some of the folks doing them. Sounds like a great idea!

Wow! These are great selections. I’m interested in the restoration of gardens but I think that for a stronger and wider advocacy, the restoration of schools and neighborhoods can be a good field for us to be involved in.

We do live with our 2 kids on a wilderness farm in Canada (BC) with vegetable (more and more permaculture) gardens, sheep, Lama,horses, chickens, cats and guardian dogs. We live very remote and there is always lots of very satisfying outside work to do.
I grew up in the city myself but became a biologist who worked in nature conservation for many years. Later on I also graduated in health psychology because I realized that humans need to heal first, with the help of nature, before nature can be healed and be sustained.
Nature is healing. Old traditions and ways of life need to be revived.
We are open to invite families with kids to share live in/with nature with us, for a period of time of permanently.
Now I am also a farmer but I continue to do research in this – my life’s – subject.